Stuttgart, Germany – On the third day of Euro 2024, Slovenia and Denmark kicked off Group C with a thrilling 1-1 draw. Both teams leave with a point, though the result undoubtedly carries different sentiments for each side.
In a poetic twist of fate, exactly 1100 days after collapsing on the field during Euro 2020, Christian Eriksen marked Denmark’s first goal of the tournament. The 32-year-old midfielder found the net in the 17th minute, capitalizing on a brilliant setup by Jonas Wind, who delivered a backheel assist from a throw-in. Eriksen controlled the ball with his chest and slotted it into the bottom left corner, past Slovenian goalkeeper Jan Oblak, igniting celebrations among Danish fans at Stuttgart’s MHPArena.
Denmark, featuring Bah from Benfica and Hjulmand from Sporting in their starting lineup, took early control of the game. Their dominance in the first half was evident as they maintained possession and consistently pressured Slovenia, who struggled to keep up.
Slovenian supporters, however, urged their team to fight back. Slovenia attempted to respond with quick counterattacks and long balls aimed at Andraž Šporar, though his decision-making often fell short. Despite their efforts, Slovenia couldn’t break through Denmark’s solid defense in the first half.
After the break, the tempo remained high. Within five minutes of the restart, Morten Hjulmand received a yellow card for a foul on Scharer, highlighting a challenging game for the Sporting midfielder who struggled to impose himself in his unfamiliar role.
As time ticked away, Denmark seemed poised to secure the win, but Slovenia refused to concede. They began to threaten more, with Benjamin Šeško hitting the post with a powerful shot, sending a warning to the Danes.
The breakthrough for Slovenia came from a corner kick. The Danish defense cleared the ball only to the edge of the area, where it found Nemanja Mitrović. Completely unmarked, Mitrović struck the ball with his left foot. It deflected off Hjulmand, wrong-footing Kasper Schmeichel and nestling into the net, bringing Slovenia level and sparking joyous celebrations among their fans.
The final whistle confirmed the first draw of Euro 2024. Slovenia walks away with a valuable point, while Denmark, despite their strong performance, will feel the sting of missed opportunities.
Player of the Match: Christian Eriksen
Christian Eriksen once again orchestrated Denmark’s midfield, showcasing his leadership and skill. He scored the opening goal, a poignant moment considering his collapse at Euro 2020. Eriksen was a constant threat, creating numerous scoring chances and facilitating Denmark’s offensive play. Remarkably, he became only the second player, after Gareth Bale at Euro 2020, to create over five opportunities in a single match. His performance was instrumental, although it wasn’t enough to secure the win for Denmark.
As the group stage continues, both teams will look to build on this match. Denmark will aim to convert their dominance into victories, while Slovenia will seek to harness the fighting spirit they displayed to further their campaign.